"With a small painter's box (pochade) she goes out in nature almost every day. It's a research and experiment into light, air and space..."
Sonja Brussen immerses herself in nature almost daily, capturing the beauty of Dutch landscapes with bold, vibrant strokes of oil paint. She often gravitates toward environments where water takes center stage—streams, lakes, ponds, and seas—painting these dynamic scenes en plein air on canvas and panel in various formats. One of her favorite destinations is Texel, where she frequently works in the Mokbaai or near the port of Sil.
Paintbox Project 2.0
From 13 September to 19 November 2023, Sonja Brussen presented a remarkable series: Paintbox Project 2.0. This collection invites viewers on a journey through the seasons and across the Netherlands. Over the past year and a half, she visited numerous locations to create these works, which are now showcased on Texel. The Paintbox Project has been evolving for years, with its first series debuting in 2020 at Galerie Posthuys.
Brussen creates her panels using a pochade—a compact, portable painter’s box she always carries on her travels. Despite their small size, these 16 x 20 cm panels are anything but simple; painting on this scale requires intense focus and precision. Her goal is to convey the same monumental sense of space found in her larger works. While her methods remain consistent, the smaller format demands greater concentration. Even in these intimate dimensions, her distinctive brushwork and vibrant use of color are instantly recognizable, true to her artistic signature.
Always in nature...
Wherever I go, my paint box and materials are always with me. They are my travelling office, my faithful companions on every journey. Whether I am walking through busy cities, wandering along quiet fields or trekking through dense forests, I am always on the hunt for new motifs. The search never stops: I am looking for the play of light and shadow, for the magic that can be found even in the darkness. Every location tells a story, and with my brush I bring that story to life. For me, painting is not just an art form, but a way to understand and capture the world around me...
